When a white Ferguson policeman fatally shot a black 18-year-old nearly a year ago, the St. Louis suburb erupted in violent protests and the nation took notice. Since then, legislators in almost every state have proposed changes to the way police interact with the public.

Opinion

While political scientists correctly point out that democracy frequently is a messy endeavor, modern democracy's support structures — such as voter registration databases — should be scrupulously secure and precise.